The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1887-04-28

tho rule Of the household into her own
hands, and tho boys were willing to
make any sacrifice for the sister who
had been 80 gentle, patient, and self
sacrificing with them through weari:
some years, and so 1t was set tied.
Kitty worked hard and faithfully.
She aimed to be an artist-not an
artisan. Observant, docile, patient;
dlligent In season and out of season,
no failure daunted her, no success
dazzled her. II her heart was aching
with bitter pain the secret was her
own; if sometimes the memory of her
lovers singing knocking, sarcastic
words became intolerable she flung
herself into her work with q passion.
ate abandon which aroused at once
the admlration and sympathy of her
teachers. Little May and Cyril, the
babies of the Hearne homestead, be.
came her companions and comforters.
There was truer, ho!ier affection than
the love OF man, she argued with self,
and the children's confidence and love
soothed and inspired her.
-Four years went by; years OF severe
labor and ceaseless study. Kitty was
now q successful teacher. q singer al
ways in demand in concert rooms and
parlors, and the leading contralto IN
one of the principal churches. Lovers
sought her vainly; her lite was given
to her art she said. In her secret soul
she knew that her love was given be.
yond recall. Ross might prove faith.
less, wound her with cruel words, or
the keensr pain of utter forgetfulness,
but she could not change.
There had been many brief visits to
the old home, the sunniest spot in
these busy years, and now as the
Thanksgiving time drew near, she was
promising herself a geperous vacation
q fortnie ht of rest and peace beneath
her fathers roof. A letter from Aunt
Sabrina, which came the week before
her departure, added fervor to her re-
solve.
Dear Niece Kitty" it ran. II s'pose
don't write very promptly, as you say
but what with the baking and churnins
and looking after Frederiky-that Danish
lady, a. she calls herself, will be the death
OF me yet with her airs and her notions
putting onion in the pudding and cinnamon
in tho potatoes when my back is turned
She's got to 60 and. oh, Lord! she's
the seventh since Christmas. Az wal
saying, have SO much to see to don't
find time to write. I'm glad you're coming
home to Thanksgiving. Your fathers kind
OF poorly, and somehow nothing suits him
He wanders around the house picking up
your books and notions from the table.
and holding them az IL they were part o.
you, and he sits looking atyour picture 10,
hours and never! speaking word. Music il
all we'll enough in its place, but think you,
duty is ut home, Kitty Payne. never did
think much OF girls meandering of
through tho world in strange ways. Thu
place by the kitchen fire is the woman
place, and she doesn't find anything bette,
with all her seeking after grand things.
you'd never know the white calf. til
grown tremendously and Daisy's colt is q
wonder to the whole neishborhood. I've
dried piles OF erabapples and pumpkins
and we've got tho latest gobblsr fol
Thanksgiving you ever saw. l do hope
you'll be home in time to make the dough
nuts and pumpkin pies. won't turn m,
hand over to anybody making pies, but
your fathers get SO notional. Nothing
tastes as it used to when Kitty did the
cooking. For my part I'd be glad enough
to let you do the whole OF it if you'd only
come. Your aHectionate aunt,
"SABRlNA PAYNE"
1.-THE sweet. safe corner of the house.
hold fire behind the heads OF Children u
quoted Kitty, with moist lashes. II
don't suppose Aunt Sabrina dreams
that she is almost a poet: but will
get home" Then she turned the sheet
and read this postscript
II almost forgot to tell you that
Lou Chamberlain is back here visiting
They say the Chamberlains have
done remarkably we'll since they
moved to Dakota. Ross is p:acticine
law in Yankton, and is looked upon
as one OF the rising men of the terri
tory. That Sullivan girl was married
last month to q Denver banker, so it
seems Ross didn't want her. after all
Maybe l was a little hard on him Kit.
ty, but I meant 1t all for your good
Lou says he's grown to be the quiet
est, solemnest fellow you ever saw
and that he's far enough now from
thinking that Ross Chamberlain made
the world, whatever his opinion was
four years ago."
"Don't forget tho gray flannel fol
your fathers shirts, and if you car
find box of Sykes Resistless Lini
n,ent l wish you'd bring it. They say
it's extra for rheumatism"
Four days later in the great farm.
house kitchen Kitty stood at the Ions
table making pies. Aunt Sabrina
stalked majestically back and forth
arranging and rearranging the pill es o
cups and plates in the old martha
way. Life was a battle for Aunt Sa
brina, but she welded her weapons
with a brave, undaunted heart, and
this morning the ghost of a smile play
ed around the thin lips and faded eyes
Sunshine and cheer had come with
Kitty's presence, and the feeble father
in his easy chair almost forgot his
ailments as he Toasted his eyes upor
her bright, inspiring face.
A knock at the door and without g
moments warning Ross Chamberlain
stood in their midst. He had grown
thinner and paler than of old; there
were lines OF care upon his face and 6
settled sadness in his dark eyes.
II have just come from my fathers
Kitty" he began, breathlessly, "wher,
yesterday I came upon this letter
written you four years since, whi:l
through some unfortunate accident
never reached it's destination.
thought you scorned to answer m,
and have lived . lonely, unhappy life
and you-Oh Kitty, what have 20,
thought Of me all these years? Car
not that SGD mistake be recti6ed
Have you grown so far away from III
that all my love cannot bring 20,
back" and scandalized Aunt Sabrins
with a hysterical ejaculation sped out
of the room as Ross emboldened by tn
tears in the blue eyes lifted to his tool
the aproned, hour-besprinkled littl'
figure into his arms.
"Maybe it's just as WE'LL" said Aunt
Sabrina meditatiVelV. as she Di|ad III